#117 Microwave ovens

My former boss puts it succintly: microwave ovens are a necessity in every home. I couldn't agree more. Of course a household could escape without one, reheating food in the stove, or refrying a fried food. But if you are always on the go, put leftover or extra foods in the fridge, and when its time to eat again, just grab a microwave oven safe container, put the food in, microwave, just two minutes and voila... dinner is served! And less stuff to clean after. Grateful!

#116 Mid-year bonus

My company just gave out its mid-year bonus!

Woohoo! Money! money! bring it on... (drooling...feeling like Mr. Krabs)

#115 Stumbling upon great side attraction

Of course you go to Baler to surf. But its cool knowing that there's a great side attraction awaiting any travelers to this part of the country. We heard about this tip from the locals, waitress and hotel staffs. Flag any tricycle and about 30 minute ride and then another 30 minute trek in the mountains, you will reach this majestic attraction called "Mother Falls". The water is sooo cold. The people I talked to there says it is coming from the Sierra Madre mountains. Cool! Literally and metaphorically hehe. The water gush was tremendous you thought it was like raining in the whole area with showers, and you cant get near the falls, it feels like you're on a tornado.

#114 The fun of surfing

Went to Baler, Aurora two weekends ago. Except from the movie starred by Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis, a few years back which I haven't seen, i have no idea about the place. Together with two office friends, were off to discover one of the country's finest surfing spot!

Its an 8 hour bus ride off north. Genesis transport is the only bus company that plies the province as of now and the terminal is located at Cubao, along EDSA.


You will normally pass the normal route north, the NLEX, SCTEX and then Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, pass thru the Pantabangan area (the famous dam!), Castaneda, Neva Vizcaya, then finally, Baler! One thing about provincial folks, they love stopovers (we have three hehe)

Baler is the capitol of the Aurora province. Located on the northwestern part of the Philippines, Philippine Sea to the west gives the best swells and paradise to the surfers. Though summer is not a good time to surf haha, as we found out. Waves are not that big, but still enjoyed every moment! Sand, sea, surf, friends and a drink... Ahh life!

#113 When there's a taxi just when you needed one

Rainy season is here.

I came from the province last Sunday aboard a bus. As I was near Magallanes (my stop), it started to pour really heavily. Me without umbrella, an umbrella-hater haha, would be totally soaked as the area doesn't even have a waiting shed. Expecting the worst, but what do you know, a taxi is waiting for me, just as I got off the bus.

Thank you Manong! Thank you universe.. hehe

#112 An opportunity to start again

I have been not been able to update this blog for three months!! I am not sure if you dear readers are still there (I dont even know if I have one haha). But since this is just my gratitude journal, it doesn't matter. I'll continue to write anyway. =)

Well, it doesnt mean grateful things has stopped for me. In  fact, the main reason I wasn't able to put attention to this blog is that I was swamped with blessings! I have been very very busy..

1. I am promoted in work
2. Career is doing very very well
3. My long  time dilemma has been answered by the universe. The universe provided!

Back to my subject, grateful that there is always an opportunity to start again. Grateful that blogs are faithful and just there and waiting for you to come back to write. I think of a metaphor for life, though how shitty it has become, or many things you have failed to do, but just for today, start again and do something...

I leave you today from a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense"

#111 Coffee shop, coffee, a friend and a good conversation

#110 Tetris

Over the holiday break i got addicted to this game. Yes its the Facebook application "Tetris Battle". Over the a course of three days i managed to ranked up till 18, and would PM any friends that is online to ask for some "energy" hehe. I haven't done this recently. I have tried Farmville, Cityville and all those other ville's hehe, but after a time would end up abandoning the games due to a lot or requirements, like requests from friends,  gifts from friends, visit friends playing field, do this do that etc. etc. What i love about the game is that it is straightforward, just play Tetris, 5 energy count per game, 2 minutes per game, until you have energy stock.

Its an offshoot of the classic game "Tetris". I guess everyone in one point of their lives have played this game. There once was a time when everyone has a brickgame in tow (the portable game gadget with tetris game), not cellphone mind you (cause it was not available yet), from a toddler to an oldie. Like the PSP of pang masa before, cause it was so affordable most of the Pinoy, Chinese merchants and Muslims stall, they have it on their wares. I guess they still have these available today =) Reminds me of my childhood. Classic!

#109 Lemon flavored beer

Really? REALLY! San Miguel came up with these flavored beers. Grab one when you can! Makes beer drinking flavorful and more enjoyable. Awesome! Mas mahaba habang usapan ito...

#108 Free and hassle-free iOs 5 update

Last October, Apple released its latest mobile operating system, the iOs 5. It was all in the news and trending online. Since I have no problems with my iPhone, I dilly dally on succumbing to  update to the new OS. But these incessant and nonstop prompt of iTunes for me to update, i finally did it yesterday. Wow man, was it a breeze. It just needs a little time to download being 600MB update, so if you have a faster internet, not much of a problem. But aside from that no other glitches encountered, I just leave it to update in its own and finish by itself. And boy was I glad I updated. The phone was faster, bugs were fixed, there were a lot of new features like iCloud and iMessaging, etc., a whole lot of enhancements, and best of all its FREE! It's like buying a car and after a year of using, the manufacturer gave you a free tune-up, with new spare parts, and a lot of freebies. Hurray for Apple!

Here is the list of the new features:  http://www.apple.com/ios/features.html 

#107 Dri-fit clothing

They stay true to their name, like nonstick frying pans and waterproof watches.  I have been jogging almost everyday now and once in a while run out of clean sandos/shirt. Grab a piece from the laundry basket, a quick wash and a little sun, or place it in front of the electric fan just a few minutes before the activity, and voila! You have a fresh clean top. Very cool! Awesome... 

#106 A 30-peso haircut

Yes, there's still a 30 peso haircut today. Got one just this afternoon, in one of the barangay's barber shop near our building. Well since its new year, first day at office and my hair looks like i haven't got a haircut since january 2011. No more time to go to the nearby mall, and since my hairstyle is either semi-kalbo or barbers cut and not that complicated and maarte cut, one tricycle ride and the driver takes me to the nearest barbershop. And yes it still comes with normal routine of alcohol, powder and a mini massage. Nice! 

#105 Watching classic Disney movies

Remember Ariel, the mermaid with the flowing red hair falling deeply in love with Prince Erick? And that beautiful voice and that awesome song "Part of your World"? How bout that crab Sebastian, with that LSS song "Under the Sea"? It was my first taste of Disney animation. Then came Beauty and the Beast, Alladin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and whole pack of other animations that were so famous, it sparked other film outfits to venture into animation. I actually have the complete set of Disney videos from Snow White (1937) until Cars 2 (2011). The video collection: 100 GB. But it is worth the space it occupies in my hard drive. Having the Disney collection is priceless. The story is awesome, the music is great, and many of the movies have a profound message. Not just for the kids but also for the kids at heart.

#104 DVD marathons

DVD marathons or video marathons, if you prefer the downloaded AVI videos off the torrent and not spare a peso off the Muslims and the piratas. It maybe the long weekends, or the rainy weather and can't get out, or if you just feel like staying at home and not work like me in the past few days hehe. Prepare the couch and the food, chichirya, how about take out pizza! There are lots of good TV miniseries out there. My personal favorites, The Big Bang Theory, House, and the Mythbusters. Whats yours?

#103 Time for everything

Wow. I havent been posting in this blog for 10 days now. And despite my absence the traffic has continued to increase. Rule No. 1 in blog, always post regularly especially if youre a newbie, I think I read that somewhere. Hehe. Thanks for dropping by! Yes you, you know who you are. I have been really feeling down, depressed even with all the issues brewing here and there, and obviously going thru something. I am not feeling grateful for a few days now, cursing even with things out of control. But one things for sure, this too shall pass. Like the good times, comes the bad times. We can't prevent it from happening. Its all part of the package. Like the breeze that passes, like the air that comes and goes thru the nostrils. it comes and it goes. I get reminded of a famous passage from the Bible:


"There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven ~
 A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.


A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance. Times when it is sunny but there are times when its cloudy and gloomy. There is summer season, and time when there's a storm. But one things for sure, no storm lasts forever. That's according to science. Have a great day!